Category Archives: Art

IASAS Cultural Convention 2014 ran from March 5th to 9th in three locations around Asia and saw some amazing performances in all diciplines. Students are all back at school now suffering from post IASAS blues and dreaming of next year’s inspirational peformances. To enjoy this year’s IASAS moments again, go to the following places:

IASAS Music Convention, hosted by International School of Kuala Lumpur

This week is IASAS Previews befor the IASAS Cultural Convention Delegates travel to Kuala Lumpur (Music), Taipei (Debate and Forensics) and Jakarta (Art/ Dance/ Drama). It would be great to see people at these events. Here are the schedules for the events:

The MS Art exhibit for semester one is showing until the end of the semester in the Middle School Library. Come admire the creativity and variety of the students work which runs the full range of artistic mediums. Classes exhibiting include Grade 5/6 Art, ARTmud (ceramics), ARTsculpt (Scuplture), ARTstudio Drawing, Painting, Printmaking) and the new DigiART (Photography, Graphic Design, Film).

We are coming to the end of a very busy cultural year at ISM with the last two events in the Fine Arts Theatre before it is taken over for Graduation preparation. This weekend is K-12 Dance Recital, which sees all ES and MS co-curricular and curricular Dance classes perform alongside some of the HS Dance classes. Then on Wednesday evening, we see the final Music concert for the year with many MS musician coming together for their Finale. The last two independent performing arts events take place in the Little Theatre with Grade 5 and 6 Beginners’ Music Recital starting at 5pm on May 21st and Advanced Dance solos starting at 3.15pm on the 24th of May. For the last Fine Arts exhibition of the year, come visit the Fine Arts Gallery any time from 3pm on April 23rd, which is the official opening and also a good chance to chat with any of the artists. This exhibition will hang throughout graduation until June 3rd. For those invited to the HS Honor Society Ceremony, you will be treated to performances by the new Tri-M inductees while Grade 8 Moving On Day will involve a variety performance put together by HS Introductory Arts classes. Here are the posters for the next two Arts events:

IASAS Cultural Convention has finally arrived and the first performances are staged on Thursday. With this in mind, I thought I would send a brief outline of the shows on offer. The information I have for each is limited to programs and conversations about technical requirements; this is what I have gleamed so far:

TAS Drama- Macbeth: One of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays edited to 45 minutes

SAS Dance- A piece responding to concentration camps during World War Two. (Sensitive subject matter.)

JIS Drama- A Harold: This is the name for a long form improvised performance so be prepared for anything! (Generally a comic storyline.)

ISKL Dance- Mad As Hell: Looks at problems within society and promotes the idea that the public should be “Mad As Hell” rather than accept such things. (Sensitive subject matter explored

SAS Drama- Eat, Play, Love: A series of seemingly unconnected scenes that pull together around the title.

ISB Dance- Noir: An exploration of film genre Noir which was popular in the 40’s and 50’s and its possible connections to today’s world.

ISKL Drama- The Ned Warriors: An example of the Futurist and Neo-Futurist genres. This type of theatre celebrates living in the present and demands that society throws tradition aside. A definite celebration of comedy with a sense of humor.

TAS Dance- O2CO2- Our connection with oxygen and carbon dioxide. There are few details beyond pictures of bubbles and the tech details promise a great ending.

ISB Drama- ex-POE-se- An expressionist- style play that explores the writing of Edgar Allen Poe. The director has said this is suitable for 13 years and above.

JIS Dance- IODOS: One for keen scientists as states of matter, synthesis, displacement and decomposition are all represented through Dance.

ISM Drama- Pearl of the Orient: An exploration of characters living through the Japanese occupation of Manila during World War Two.

Here are the times for all Cultural Convention performances and the Art Opening:

While we welcome the ISM community to enjoy these performances and the Art Exhibition, we would appreciate you taking into consideration the following recommendations:

BE ON TIME: You will notice that timings are very precise. This is because the theatre is in use the whole day for technical rehearsals. There is no time allowance for lateness. With this in mind you must arrive before the start time. Latecomers will be refused access, even if you have a child performing.

SWITCH IT OFF: These plays are the culmination of months of hard work, please turn all phones off. It is an expectation of all audience members to adhere to this. You will not be able to leave to take a call during any performance. IASAS is very serious about this rule and it is considered the height of bad manners to admit audience members who are not aware of this. We want to make a good impression as the hosts and lead by example.

NO PHOTOGRAPHY: We have a team of student photographers and a photography expert taking photos. We are also videoing all performances and copies of these will be available via the Fine Arts Office. Flash photography is distracting.

CONSIDER CONTENT: These performances were developed with HS audiences in mind. While most performances are family friendly, we advise discretion when bringing MS audience members to watch. The ISB Drama group has already advised that their performance on the Saturday morning is not suitable for those students less than 13 years of age. MS students, who want to watch JIS Dance and ISM Drama, will be admitted to the theatre at 1.30pm.

The ISKL Dance and SAS Dance also address sensitive issues that will require parental guidance for those under 13.

Here is a list of the shows and a brief synopsis of each show so you can make a choice about coming:

(SCHEDULES FOR BOTH THE IASAS PREVIEWS AND THE COVENTION CAN BE FOUND BELOW)

On Wednesday the 27th of February 117 actors, dancers, technicians and artists arrive from the other IASAS schools. This is great experience for not only those involved but also the ISM community. During the convention there are plays, dances and an art exhibition to come and enjoy (see schedule below). In addition, the week prior to Cultural Convention is dedicated to previews (see schedule below).

WHAT IS IASAS CULTURAL CONVENTION?

Some people I’ve talked to seem a little unsure of the format of Cultural Convention. With this in mind, I decided to put an explanation together for those who might not completely understand the workings of this part of the IASAS Program.

The 31st IASAS Cultural Convention is held over 3 days from February 28th to March 2nd. There are three parts to this event, each of which is held at a different IASAS School:

IASAS Music- hosted this year by Singapore American School (8 strings players, 8 band members and 8 choir singers accompanied by 3 pianists playing solos as well as performing in octets)

IASAS Debate and Forensics- hosted this year by Jakarta International School (17 students competing in the areas of Debate, Impromptu speaking, Oral interpretation, Original Oratory, and Extemporaneous speaking)

Being part of a Cultural Convention group is essentially the cultural equivalent of making a varsity sports team. All students who are involved have completed some form of audition or selection process. The students of our cultural ‘teams’ are called delegates and represent ISM against other IASAS schools.

Previews are held in the week prior to the actual Cultural Convention. This is a chance for students to test their works on an audience and also a chance for people to enjoy the parts of the convention that are travelling. (Please: note this is a change since last week because Forensics has decided to have an extended preview.)

Over three days, IASAS Art, Dance and Drama delegates all participate in workshops to develop their skills. The most anticipated parts of the convention, however, are the performances and an art exhibition opening. Here is a list of what is on offer:

While we welcome the ISM community to enjoy these performances and the Art Exhibition, we would appreciate you taking into consideration the following recommendations:

BE ON TIME: You will notice that timings are very precise. This is because the theatre is in use the whole day for technical rehearsals. There is no time allowance for lateness. With this in mind you must arrive before the start time. Latecomers will be refused access, even if you have a child performing.

SWITCH IT OFF: These plays are the culmination of months of hard work, please turn all phones off. It is an expectation of all audience members to adhere to this. You will not be able to leave to take a call during any performance. IASAS is very serious about this rule and it is considered the height of bad manners to admit audience members who are not aware of this. We want to make a good impression as the hosts and lead by example.

NO PHOTOGRAPHY: We have a team of student photographers and a photography expert taking photos. We are also videoing all performances and copies of these will be available via the Fine Arts Office. Flash photography is distracting.

CONSIDER CONTENT: These performances are meant for a HS audience. While most performances are family friendly, we advise discretion when bringing MS audience members to watch. The ISB Drama group has already advised that their performance on the Saturday morning is not suitable for those children less than 13 years of age. MS students, who want to watch JIS Dance and ISM Drama, will be admitted to the theatre at 1.30pm.

At the HS parent coffee morning the other day, a parent said she was a little unsure of the format of Cultural Convention. With this in mind, I decided to put an explanation together for those who might not completely understand the workings of this part of the IASAS Program.

The 31st IASAS Cultural Convention is held over 3 days from February 28th to March 2nd. There are three parts to this event, each of which is held at a different IASAS School:

IASAS Music- hosted this year by Singapore American School (8 strings players, 8 band members and 8 choir singers accompanied by 3 pianists playing solos as well as performing in octets)

IASAS Debate and Forensics- hosted this year by Jakarta International School (17 students competing in the areas of Debate, Impromptu speaking, Oral interpretation, Original Oratory, and Extemporaneous speaking)

Being part of a Cultural Convention group is essentially the cultural equivalent of making a varsity sports team. All students who are involved have completed some form of audition or selection process. The students of our cultural ‘teams’ are called delegates and represent ISM against other IASAS schools.

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF IASAS MUSIC?

Each school sends 27 musicians: 8 strings players, 8 band members, 8 choir members and 3 pianists. Each member of the group completes a solo performance on their chosen instrument in front a panel of adjudicators who will give a detail critique of the student’s playing. Each of the strings, band and choir soloists are supported by one of the 3 pianists. The groups also present as octets. The convention culminates in a showcase of performers from the various schools that have been recommended for an Honors award based on their solos or octet performances.

WHEN ARE IASAS MUSIC PREVIEWS?

Prior to travelling, IASAS Music holds previews for the ISM community. There are two previews, which have different programs so that each soloist and octet gets a chance to practice in front of an audience. This means that there are two wonderful nights of music to look forward to next week. All players involved are of an advanced standard so if you enjoy classical music please put the following dates aside:

Wednesday, February 20th at 5pm in the Little Theatre

Friday, February 22nd at 5pm in the Little Theatre

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF IASAS DEBATE AND FORENSICS?

Debate and Forensics is a competitive convention with four different events being contested for gold, silver and bronze medals:

Debate– 6 Debaters break into two groups and compete over several rounds, which culminate in a final.

Original Oratory– 3 students prepare an original 5-7 minute speech prior to the convention the convention. The piece is marked on both content and performance.

Oral Interpretation- 3 students each learn a poem, short story or extract from a longer text of 5 to 7 minutes in length. They present this and are evaluated upon how well they are able to covey thematic significance and character development through by using an array of oratory techniques.

Extemporaneous Speaking- Prior to the convention, schools submit a range of topics related to current affairs. These are sorted through and a selection of questions is created. Meanwhile, the 3 extemporaneous speakers spend as much time developing their understanding of topical current affairs and collecting a file of possible source material. In each round, the students are given a choice of two questions and then have 30 minutes to prepare a 5 to 7 minute speech which answers the question. Evaluation is weighted 70% for content and 30% for delivery.

Impromptu Speaking- Our 3 impromptu speakers will each compete in three rounds to make it to a final. Each round sees them handed two topic choices and then given 1 minute to prepare a 3 to 5 minute speech on the one of their choice. Evaluation is weighted 60% for content and 40% for delivery.

WHEN ARE PREVIEWS?

Original Oratory and Oral Interpretation take part in previews week. Some of the delegates perform in between the Dance and Drama previews on the following dates:

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF ART/DANCE/ DRAMA CULTURAL CONVENTION?

Each of the 6 IASAS schools brings 5 artists, 8 dancers and 8 actors to participate in workshops and to also share prepared work. This means that over the 3 days of the convention there will be many performances and an art exhibition to appreciate:

Art- Art delegates spend the first morning of the convention hanging an exhibition of the 6 schools’ art works. Each school brings 25 pieces of art that can come from a wide range of mediums, including painting, photography, graph design, sculpture and more. The 5 delegates that are present will each have at least one piece on display but there will also be work from students who are not present. The Art opening takes place on the first evening of the exhibition and then hangs until the opening of the last shows. During the convention, each piece is critiqued by delegates and this feedback is given to the artists. In addition to this they participate in 3 workshops and a trip to Intramurous.

Dance- Prior to the convention, each school choreographs a 20 minute dance based around a theme or story. This year ISM has choreographed a dance based around This will be shared during the convention with other delegates but is also open to the ISM community to watch. This performance will then be critiqued by the workshop leader and all other delegates. The Dancers also participate in 5 workshops led by a Dance professional.

Drama- Prior to the convention, each school prepares a performance of no more than 45 minutes in length to share with delegates and other interested members of the ISM community. The type of theatre can vary greatly; this year we have a shortened Shakespearean play, a montage of short comedic scenes, a long form improvised performance, a futurist piece and a piece about Edgar Allen Poe. ISM has a devised piece based around the lives of people in World War II Manila. These performances will each be critiqued by workshop leaders and all other delegates.

Here is a schedule of previews that are being held in the week prior to Cultural Convention:

Music Preview (Part 1)

Wednesday, 20th February

5pm

Little Theatre

Dance/ Forensics/ Drama

Thursday, 21st February

5pm

Fine Arts Theatre

Music Preview (Part2)

Friday, 22nd February

5pm

Little Theatre

Drama/ Forensics/ Dance

Saturday, 23rd February

5pm

Fine Arts Theatre

The Music previews involve a different group of musicians in each show so plan to come to both if you wish to see all the delegates perform.

It is ISM’s turn to host the IASAS Art/ Dance/ Drama Cultural Convention. With this in mind, we would like to ask for volunteers to help host the 115 delegates. The groups arrive on February 27th and leave on the morning of March 3rd. If you have space for students, we would really love to hear from you. Hosting students is what makes the whole IASAS network possible and is also an enjoyable experience so get a form from the Fine and Performing Arts Office or email me on HillmanM@ismanila.org and I will send you a soft copy. If you have any more questions regarding hosting, please ring the FAO on 8408630.

Let the Grade 4 students take you to a land called Enchantia. This is a special occasion, which only comes around every few years, where the inhabitants of Earth can finally make contact with the inhabitants of this magical land so be sure to accept your invitation. With 50 Grade 4’s involved, there is certainly a lot of creativity being expelled, both on and off the stage. This is the show where even you will be part of the action. Without giving too much away, it is worth coming for the entrance alone.

Where & When: January 31st at6pm in the FAT for Family and friends (there are 2 other daytime performances for ES students at 1pm on January 31st and at 8am on March 1st)